Using word families to increase the number of words a child can master is very effective. Instead of learning a couple of words per spelling pattern, a child can learn many more words without much extra effort, making it an efficient way to learn new words. I have always had my students make new words with magnets, rubber stamps, dry erase markers,...whatever we could find. Well, now we need to do things a little differently. Making words with Google Slides is a great way to achieve this method of word work in our new distance learning world.
Learning to read can be difficult so beginning with words that follow a particular pattern is a less confusing way to help our younger students learn to read. Word families or 'chunks' provide that predictable pattern and since the words rhyme, it makes them fun to read!
I hope this making words pack will help you with your distance learning challenges. Click here to get your free packet.
You are wonderful and your students love you. Keep fighting the good fight and stay safe!

Do you teach about the short vowel sounds? I'm a big proponent of hands-on activities, but sometimes it's just nice to have a workbook to give kids the practice they need. In this sample pack, you will get workbook pages to use with your kids for the short 'a' vowel sound.
The packet includes these activities:


Answer keys are also included. So, if you would rather use the pages at a learning station, they can be self-checking. I like to put pages like this into a page protector. One side has the work to be completed with a dry erase marker. The other side is the answer key.

Get your free sample here.




If you like what you see, you can get the full version here.


Thanks for stopping by!

Kids love to make new words, especially in a hands-on way. Making new words with word families is a very important skill and one that is extremely satisfying to the little learner. After introducing word families, I love using this hands-on, simple activity in my classroom because it can be used so many different ways. Fun ways to use this activity are:

• enlarge the pages, place the page on a cookie sheet, and then give the kids magnets.
• give the kids rubber stamps with letters on them.
• place the pages into plastic page protectors and have the kids write the letters with dry erase markers.

You can't believe all the words they come up with. Sometimes, they make words that aren't really words or aren't spelled correctly. Then, that will give you a chance to teach about some of the crazy rules we have in the English language.
After using all the word families with my kids, they were well on their way to becoming word masters.

If you would like to try out one of these pages to let your kids make new words with word families, just click here.










Then, if you like, you can buy the:

• short vowel pack
• long vowel pack
• special vowel pack
• complete bundle of all 3 packs

Thanks for stopping by!

The end of the school year evokes several emotions. 

• There is frenzy as you enter all test results, grades, and anything else that comes in a 'things to do before the end of school' email.
• There is panic as you frantically try to put everything in its place so that your room can be cleaned properly.
• There is exasperation as you try to fill your last days with educational fun that will tame your excited little munchkins.
• There is sadness as you promote your charges to the next grade. You have all become a family, and now your journey together has come to an end. It's amazing how close you get~I'm sure you've referred to your class as 'my kids,' right?
• There is excitement as you think of all the things you will accomplish over the summer . . . read a few books, go on vacation, sleep in, clean out the basement, . . . and the list goes on and on.
• There is anticipation as you enter Target or the Dollar Tree in search of goodies for your next class. We all know how quickly the next year comes around!

P.S.  I finally finished another paint stick pack for beginning blends. You can find it {here} or you can just visit my Rockin' Teacher Store (the red button at the top of my blog pages) and use the code June2013 for 30% off your entire order . . . including all my paint stick sets. 

I had never tried one of their games because I thought I had to have a SMART Board. However, I found out that you can run them on a computer! My kids have had a blast checking them out too. The 'Phonics Quiz Game Show' is one of their favorite games.

It allows the students to choose their box and gives them a question. Here is an example of one of the questions. Here's what happens if they get the answer wrong: